Aussies delivers US-made tanks to Kyiv, as EU signs strictest sanctions package against Putin
The majority of the promised 49 M1A1 Abrams tanks have made their way to Ukraine, with the rest expected to be delivered in the coming months, Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles said Saturday. But it remains unclear how many have actually arrived in the war-torn country.
The M1 Abrams is the main battle tank of the US Army — and one of the heaviest tanks in service.
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4 The M1A1 Abrams tank weighs 62 tons it is one of the heaviest and strongest tanks, according to the US army.
Department of Defense
'The M1A1 tanks will make a significant contribution to Ukraine's ongoing fight against Russia's illegal and immoral invasion,' Marles said in a statement.
The delivery is part of a $160 million package the Aussies are sending to help Kyiv fend off Russia's invasion.
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The country is also planning to deploy a Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail aircraft to Europe in August, to help protect an international gateway for assistance to Ukraine.
Australia is one of the largest non-NATO contributors to Ukraine. It's been sending military equipment, ammunition and aid to Kyiv since the start of Russian strongman Vladimir Putin's 2022 invasion.
4 Marles said most of the tanks have made their way to Ukraine with the rest coming in the next few months.
AP
The US meanwhile reshuffled its arms deliveries to free up more Patriots for Ukraine — the Pentagon's key missile defense system, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday.
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And the House overwhelmingly also voted to continue providing military support to Ukraine this week, as President Trump announced 'billions of dollars' worth of weapons would be shipped to Ukraine through Washington's NATO allies.
Further ratcheting up the pressure on Putin, the EU finally approved an 18th sanctions package against Russia.
The package was being held back by Slovakia, but Prime Minister Robert Fico agreed to stop blocking its approval Friday. It's believed to be the toughest levied on the Kremlin since the war broke out.
'We are standing firm. The EU just approved one of its strongest sanctions package against Russia to date,' EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on X.
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4 Putin is facing his strictest sanctions package from the EU yet.
AP
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky applauded the move, meant to severely limit Russia's war chest.
'This decision is essential and timely, especially now, as a response to the fact that Russia has intensified the brutality of the strikes on our cities and villages,' Zelensky said on X.
It sets a moving price cap on Russian crude oil, 15% below its average market price, according to EU diplomats. That means the Kremlin wouldn't be able to sell its oil for more than roughly $47.60 per barrel right now — far below the EU's previous $60 cap.
But oil traders have cast doubt whether it will disrupt Russian exports, as it's unclear who's responsible for policing the cap's implementation.
4 Zelensky welcomed the latest EU sanctions package.
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA
And Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the move.
'We have repeatedly said that we consider such unilateral restrictions illegal, we oppose them,' Peskov told reporters Friday.
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The sanctions also go after more Russian shadow fleet ships, banning an additional 105 vessels from accessing EU ports, adding the total to 400.
And transactions related to Russia's Nord Stream gas pipelines under the Baltic Sea will also be banned as part of the EU package, as Kyiv's allies look to pressure Putin into agreeing to a long-awaited cease-fire deal in the deadly war.
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